An Insignificant Man

Created by two young, independent filmmakers, An Insignificant Man is India’s most successful and largest crowdfunded documentary ever. Having a blockbuster performance at the Indian box office and appearances at more than 30 film festivals worldwide.

The film follows Arvind Kejriwal, a new-comer to Indian politics, and Yogendra Yadav, a seasoned veteran, who work together to form the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). A new political party which aims to serve the common man and combat corruption. In the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election, they challenge the Congress Party and the BJP, India’s oldest and most powerful political establishments, using grassroots strategies to engage voters. All the while they grapple with the realities of politics while struggling to keep their idealism alive.

The documentary is about the rise of anti-corruption protests in India and the formation and rise to power of the Aam Aadmi Party, which was an independent political faction that gained traction through campaigns against the corruption in Indian politics and was headed by political leader Arvind Kejriwal, and captures the day-to-day functioning of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) between December 2012 and December 2013, concluding with the Delhi elections. The film released in India on 17 November 2017. The film was earlier known as “Proposition for a Revolution”.

The makers of “An Insignificant Man” posted a ‘plea’ on their film site, making a case for the importance of their documentary. Stating, “When we began shooting, nobody knew what lay in the future. Least of all, us. Today, we feel, we have a film that is a critical document, observing not just the evolution of a political party, but the gradual shift that we are beginning to witness in our political discourse. In the last year, we have been helped by friends who moved cities and jobs to work on this film and by colleagues who brought in their own resources. We managed to win the prestigious IDFA Bertha Grant for documentaries. We now come to you. Your support will enable us to make a better quality film in lesser time. It will also ensure that nothing can stop this film from reaching you. Please be a part of this conversation, and help us take it further. We have a host of exciting incentives too, do check them out on our page.”

The film’s site explains, “What is unique in the Indian story is that some of the protesters decided to form a political party and fight state-wide elections in New Delhi. This is the story of the Aam Aadmi Party or the Common Man’s Party. “An Insignificant Man” aims to chronicle the journey of the party from its formation in December 2012 to the Delhi state elections in December 2013.”

The crowdfunding campaign received unprecedented support. While the filmmakers had an initial goal of $20,000, they went on to receive a staggering $120,000. Nearly 600% over their target. This was the largest crowdfunding campaign of its kind in India, hosted by the filmmakers on their own platform.